SOLD

Details

Overall Condition: Case is in excellent condition over all, meticulously refinished by a professional and showing only light signs of wear consistent with age and use. Original matte dial shows light even patina. Genuine handset with matching patina. Original "Pepsi" bezel shows beautiful fading, particularly noticeable on the red element. Original case back and signed crown.

Rolex GMT-Master

The Rolex GMT-Master Reference 1675 embodies everything that we love about vintage watches: It is timeless, stylish, and has an origin story that is second to none.

Designed for the cowboys of the jet age, the GMT-Master has exuded effortless cool for 50 years.

Imagine the heady days of the jet set era, the time when the Life Magazine followed the exploits of the worlds chicest celebrities and tycoons as they traveled between New York, Paris, Capri and Portofino. Picture men in sharp sports coats, stewardesses in short dresses and clouds of smoke in clubby airplane lounges a mile above the ground. What did these world travelers have on their wrist to keep track of their home and destination time zones as they vacationed their way around the world? Whether they were in the cockpit or in the cabin, it was a Rolex GMT-Master.

One of the first pilot watches to be useful both in the air and on land, the GMT-Master was designed for the rigors of jet aviation, but was also waterproof enough for a swim in the Mediterranean. Following the tool watch ethos of all 1960s Rolex sports watches, the GMT-Master was not a bauble for the idle rich. Pilots chose this watch as an important part of the toolkit, and it was widely adopted by their admirers.

Too many watches are hyped up as icons these days, but the “Pepsi” bezel GMT-Master is one of those rare cases when the watch is truly deserving of that term. Designed specifically for Pan-Am pilots, the blue and red bezel marks the hours for the second time zone, which is in 24-hour military time (thus the red arrow GMT hand circles the dial only once a day, not twice like a normal hour hand). The Calibre 1570 movement housed in the 40mm Oyster case is tough, accurate and well finished, and is largely the same as the movements Rolex currently uses in their GMT-Master line.

The 1675 shares many of the Submariner’s best design features, including the Oyster case, matte dial, "Mercedes" hour hand and large tritium hour plots. But it also retains its own unique identity with its thinner case, colorful bezel and added GMT complication.

This particular example hints at its age with just the right amount of patina, creamy luminescent plots and a beautifully faded bezel. Since the 1675 was designed to be a tool watch, their original owners tended not to treat them very gingerly, but we’ve hunted down this handsome and well-cared-for example that is ready for many more decades of use.

The GMT-Master is one of those watches that has a place in every watch collection, big or small, and collectors are constantly on the hunt for the perfect example. We’ve done the hunting for you, so come and get it.

Details

Overall Condition: Case is in excellent condition over all, meticulously refinished by a professional and showing only light signs of wear consistent with age and use. Original matte dial shows light even patina. Genuine handset with matching patina. Original "Pepsi" bezel shows beautiful fading, particularly noticeable on the red element. Original case back and signed crown.